A special year 2000 edition of the Tasmanian Year Book was launched today in Hobart by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and former Australian Test Cricketer Mr David Boon.

Mr Boon, speaking at the launch, complimented the ABS on the production of the Year Book and said the game of cricket would "hardly be the same without records showing all sorts of angles".

"And just as the lists and records provide so much of the cricket story the ABS provides the essential elements to any understanding of our society and our economy," he said.

The newly appointed Tasmanian Regional Director of the ABS, Mr Steve Matheson, who presented copies of the Year Book to Mr Boon and to the Tasmanian Government at the launch, said: "The Tasmanian Year Book has always been an important reference on the current facts and figures of the State, in fact the origin of the Year Book was to act as a snapshot of life to send back to our colonial masters in England.

"The Year Book presents both social and economic life in Tasmania from chapters on government, industry, and the environment to chapters on lifestyle, education and community welfare. However this special millennium edition also reviews the history of life in Tasmania as well.

"Traditionally each edition of the Tasmanian Year Book has a few special articles. However this Year 2000 edition focuses on the history of Tasmania and has 43 special articles on diverse topics ranging from 'A Century of Trade' and 'Tasmanian Health since 1900' to 'Conservation of Selected Tasmanian Buildings' and 'Tasmanian Artists - 100 years'."

At the launch Mr Matheson also praised the continued assistance received from individuals, primary producers, businesses, government agencies and other organisations who provide the basic information from which ABS statistics are produced.

"Written contributions and photos for the Year Book were generously submitted by a range of organisations and individuals in the State, reinforcing the co-operative approach that the ABS has continued to develop with State agencies, local government and other organisations," he said.

Tasmanian Year Book 2000 (cat. no. 1301.6) is available from ABS bookshops in all capital cities.

Media review copies are available from Jane Wilson on (03) 6222 5979.

Media Inquires:

Media requests, comment, interviews Carolyn Verey 0418 202 580

Statistical clarification James Plunkett (03) 6222 5841

TASMANIAN YEAR BOOK 2000 - Facts and Figures Sheet

1. In Tasmania in 1900, life expectancy was 54.2 years for men and 55.6 years for women. By comparison, in 1999, these figures have grown to 74.8 for men and 80.1 for women.

2. Tasmania's population decline in recent years (1996-97 and 1997-98) has resulted from net losses in interstate migration.

3. At June 30 1998, the Resident Population of Tasmania was estimated at 471,885, 2.5% of the nation's population. On a regional basis, the Greater Hobart-Southern Region accounted for 48.7% (229,593) of the population, the Northern Region 28.2% (133,229) and the Mersey-Lyell Region 23.1% (109,063).

4. In 1998 there were 505,000 adult visitors to Tasmania. The most popular places visited in Tasmania were (in order) Port Arthur, Sullivan's Cove/Salamanca Place, Cataract Gorge, Cradle Mountain, and Mt Wellington.

GENERAL INTEREST

5. The longest river in the State is the South Esk river, measuring 214 km.

6. The area of Tasmania represents 0.9% of the total area of Australia, and is just under one-third the area of Victoria, the smallest mainland State.

BUSINESS

7. Zinc was the most valuable commodity exported in 1997-98; 28.0% was sent to Hong Kong.

8. In 1997-98, Private New Capital Expenditure for the State was $646.0m.

9. Japan is Tasmania's largest export market, taking over a quarter (25.7%) of the value of the State's exports in 1997-98.

10. In 1997-98, the value of woodchips exports to Japan was $283.0m.

11. In the 1997-98 financial year, the value of Tasmania's overseas exports rose by 25% to $2,134.9m, a new record high. This rise was well above the rise of 5% in the previous year and also well above the Australian export growth in 1997-98 of over 11% in the previous year.

12. In the 1997-98 financial year the value of Tasmania's exports was 2.4% of the Australian total. To put this figure of 2.4% in perspective, at June 30 1998, Tasmania accounted for 2.5% of the population of the nation.

13. Since a large proportion of Tasmania's production is export oriented, the Tasmanian economy can be severely affected by movements in world commodity prices. Because of its small size, Tasmania's economy is reliant on a few key industries and so its foreign exports are concentrated in a handful of commodities. The biggest single export contributor in 1997-98 was zinc (15% of the total value of exports).

14. In terms of contribution by components to Tasmania's Gross State Product at Factor Cost (GSPFC), manufacturing was the State's most important industry, contributing 14.2% in 1997-98. Mining contributed only 2.4% to GSPFC.

WEATHER

15. Hobart is the coolest State capital with an average daily maximum of 17.1 degrees Celsius.

16. Hobart's average annual rainfall is 586 mm. Of all State capitals, only Adelaide (561 mm) is lower.

17. The highest temperature recorded for the State was 40.8 degrees Celsius, measured in Hobart in January 1976 and also in Bushy Park in December 1945. (Perth, WA, has the highest for any capital at 46.7.)

18. The lowest temperature on record in Tasmania was -13 degrees Celsius, at Shannon, Tarraleah and Butlers Gorge in June 1983.

19. The highest recorded wind gust in Tasmania was 176 km/h at Cape Grim in July 1998.